Tetherless device charging for chained devices

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method includes integrating a charging pad into a powered device having a power supply, where the powered device is at least one of a monitor and a keyboard. The method includes configuring the charging pad to receive a first chargeable device in a charging position relative to the charging pad. The method further includes configuring the charging pad to deliver an electrical charge from the power supply to the first chargeable device when the chargeable device is in the charging position.

DOMESTIC PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/753,278, filed Jun. 29, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various embodiments of this disclosure relate to device charging and,more particularly, to tetherless device charging for chained devices.

Many users of consumer electronics have multiple devices, which mayinclude laptop computers, mobile phones, tablets, and others. In somecases, tethers are needed to connect devices for the purpose of chargingor communicating data. For instance, a universal serial bus (USB) cablemay be used to charge a mobile device by way of a laptop's internalbattery, and to transfer data between the two devices. Thus, manydevices and their various charging cables may take up room in a user'sphysical workspace.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method includes integrating acharging pad into a powered device having a power supply, where thepowered device is at least one of a monitor and a keyboard. The methodincludes configuring the charging pad to receive a first chargeabledevice in a charging position relative to the charging pad. The methodfurther includes configuring the charging pad to deliver an electricalcharge from the power supply to the first chargeable device when thechargeable device is in the charging position.

In another embodiment, a system includes a powered device having a powersupply and a charging pad. The charging pad is configured to receive afirst chargeable device in a charging position relative to the chargingpad, and to deliver an electrical charge from the power supply to thefirst chargeable device when the chargeable device is in the chargingposition. The powered device is at least one of a monitor and akeyboard.

In yet another embodiment, a computer program product for charging oneor more chained devices includes a computer readable storage mediumhaving program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructionsare executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform amethod. The method includes detecting presence of a chargeable device ata charging pad integrated into a powered device having a powered supply.The powered device is at least one of a monitor and a keyboard. Themethod further includes delivering an electrical charge from the powersupply to the first chargeable device by way of the charging pad,responsive to the detecting.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention. For a better understanding of the invention with theadvantages and the features, refer to the description and to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-1B are diagrams of a charging system, according to someembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another diagram of the charging system, according to someembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is yet another diagram of the charging system, according to someembodiments of this yet disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for charging chained devices,according to some embodiments of this disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system for implementing some orall aspects of the charging system, according to some embodiments ofthis disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of this disclosure are configured to charge one ormore chargeable devices by chaining them to a powered device, such as amonitor, thereby allowing the powered device's power supply to be usedas a source of power for charging the chargeable devices.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of a charging system 100, according to someembodiments of this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1A, the charging system100 may apply to a powered device 110 and a chargeable device 150. Forexample, the powered device 110 may be a monitor, a wired keyboard, or acomputer. The powered device 110 may have a power supply 140, which isillustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B as a dashed box because it is not visible inthis example, given the depicted perspective of the powered device 110.In some embodiments, this power supply 140 may include an alternatingcurrent (AC) or direct current (DC) adapter pluggable into a poweroutlet. However, it will be understood that an internal battery may alsosuffice as the power supply 140. For example, the chargeable device 150may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless trackpad, awireless keyboard, or a wireless mouse. The chargeable device 150 mayinclude a rechargeable internal battery. In some embodiments, thecharging system 100 may enable the chargeable device 150 to draw powerfrom the powered device 110, without use of a tether to plug thechargeable device 150 into the powered device 110 or into a separatepower supply.

The powered device 110 may include an abutment 120. For example, if thepowered device 110 is a monitor, as shown in FIG. 1A, the abutment 120may be a portion of the monitor acting as part of a stand. FIG. 2 isanother diagram of the charging system 100, according to someembodiments, in which the powered device 110 is a keyboard. In thiscase, the abutment 120 may be a portion of the keyboard that extends,for example, beyond the keys, below the rightmost keys, or at therightmost edge of the keyboard. In FIG. 2, only a single abutment 120 isshown, on the right side of the powered device 110. In some embodiments,however, the powered device 110 may include an abutment 120 on eachside, thus becoming equally convenient for left-handed and right-handedpeople.

Returning to FIG. 1A, the abutment 120 may include a charging pad 130,which may receive an electrical charge from the power supply 140 of thepowered device 110. In some embodiments, both the abutment 120 and thecharging pad 130 may be integrated into the powered device 110, so thatthe charging pad 130 can receive power from the power supply 140 of thepowered device 110. As shown, if the abutment 120 is part of a monitorstand, the charging pad 130 may be positioned on top of an upwardlyfacing portion of the monitor stand or at a front edge of the monitorstand, for example. The charging pad 130 may be configured to pass anelectrical charge from the powered device 110 to the chargeable device150 when the chargeable device 150 is positioned on the charging pad130.

FIG. 1B is a closer view of the abutment 120 of the powered device 110and surrounding components. As shown, to enabling the charging pad 130to pass an electrical charge to the chargeable device 150, the chargingpad 130 may include pad hardware 135, and the chargeable device 150 mayinclude receiving hardware 155. The pad hardware 135 of the charging pad130 and the receiving hardware 155 of the chargeable device 150 may beconfigured to couple together, thus also coupling together the chargingpad 130 and the chargeable device 150, so as to enable passing of theelectrical charge. This coupling may take the form of inductivecoupling, for example, to enable inductive charging. In this case, thechargeable device 150, by way of its receiving hardware 155, and thecharging pad 130, by way of its pad hardware 135, may have goodinductive resonance with inductive coils tuned to resonate at the samefrequency. It will be understood, however, that other forms of couplingand charging may also be used, such as charging by way of magneticresonance (also referred to as magnetic induction or electromagneticinduction). One of skill in the art will understand how to provide thecharging pad 130 and the chargeable device 150 with, respectively, padhardware 135 and receiving hardware 155 to enable appropriate couplingfor charging the chargeable device 150.

In some embodiments, the chargeable device 150 may need to be in aproper charging position to enable reliable charging. This chargingposition may be any required alignment and proximity with the chargingpad 130 to enable passing of the electrical charge. For example, and notby way of limitation, the charging position may be a position in whichthe chargeable device 150 touches the charging pad 130 such that thereceiving hardware 155 and the pad hardware 135 are physically aligned.Some embodiments of the charging system 100 may include a mechanism formaintaining the placement of the chargeable device 150 on the chargingpad 130, so as to ensure the charging position is maintained onceachieved. For example, the abutment 120 may include a cradle into whichthe chargeable device 150 can be inserted, with the charging pad 130being positioned at the bottom or at an inside edge of the cradle. Foranother example, if the chargeable device 150 is capable of vibratingfor notification or other purposes, such vibration may be provided bymeans of one or more linear actuator motors rather than conventionaldrive shaft motors. Using linear actuator motors in the chargeabledevice 150 may enable the chargeable device 150 to achieve more directedmovement than can be achieved with drive shaft motors. Thus, thechargeable device 150 may correct its positioning to more closely alignwith the pad hardware 130 of the charging pad 130.

In some embodiments, the charging pad 130 may constantly receive anelectrical charge when the powered device 110 has power, or in someembodiments, the charging pad 130 may activate (i.e., become powered on)only upon detection that the chargeable device 150 is in chargingposition. In the latter case, the charging pad 130 may detect thepresence of the chargeable device 130, and the powered device 110 maythen provide an electrical charge to the charging pad 130 responsive tothat detection. For example, and not by way of limitation, thisdetection may be performed through the use of a magnetic switch. Whenactivated, the magnetic switch may likewise activate the pad hardware135 (e.g., by initiating the induction coil transmission circuit, in thecase of inductive charging) for charging the chargeable device 150. Inthat case, the chargeable device 150 may include at least one magnetwith enough field to activate a responsive magnetic switch on the padhardware 135 to open a relay or, in the case of inductive charging,complete a charging coil circuit to activate the pad hardware 135 andthus activate the charging pad 130 itself. A further benefit of themagnetic switch is that such a switch may also aid in alignment of thechargeable device 150, especially if multiple magnets are used.

Upon removal of the chargeable device 150, when the charging pad 130 nolonger detects the presence of the chargeable device 150, the powereddevice 110 may cease delivering the electrical charge to the chargingpad 130, and the charging pad 130 may thus cease providing an electricalcharge.

FIG. 3 is yet another diagram of the charging system 100, according tosome embodiments of this disclosure. While FIGS. 1A-2 illustrate asingle chargeable device 150 being chained to the powered device 110 forcharging, FIG. 3 illustrates that some embodiments may enable two ormore chargeable devices 150 to be chained to one another and to thepowered device 110 for charging.

As shown, the charging pad 130 may be positioned on an edge of theabutment 120, which may make it more accessible for chaining more than asingle chargeable device 150, with each chargeable device 150 in thechain being coupled to one or more adjacent chargeable devices 150. Inthis case, the receiving hardware 155 may be positioned at one or moreedges of the device chargeable device 150, thus enabling the chargeabledevice 150 to lie flat on the table or other work surface when incharging position, and further enabling charging hardware 210 to remainexposed for use by another chargeable device.

In some embodiments, each chargeable device may have charging hardware210 in addition to its receiving hardware 155. Further, in someembodiments, the charging hardware 210 may, but need not, be positionedat an opposite edge from the receiving hardware 155. The receivinghardware 155 of a first chargeable device 150 may receive an electricalcharge, and the charging hardware 210 on the first chargeable device 150may transmit an electrical charge to a second chargeable device 150chained to the first chargeable device 150. Thus, the first chargeabledevice 150 may be coupled with the second chargeable device 150 by wayof a coupling between the charging hardware 210 of the first chargeabledevice 150 and the receiving hardware 155 of the second chargeabledevice 150. The first chargeable device 150 may receive an electricalcharge for charging itself, such as through the charging pad 130 of thepowered device 110, and may pass along an electrical charge for chargingthe second chargeable device 150.

When the first chargeable device 150 is in charging position, the secondchargeable device 150 may be placed in a charging position for receivingan electrical charge from the first chargeable device 150. This lattercharging position may align the first device's charging hardware 210with the second chargeable device's receiving hardware 155. In thiscase, the powered device 110, the first chargeable device 150, and thesecond chargeable device 150 may be chained together, such that thepower supply 140 of the powered device 110 may indirectly supply anelectrical charge to each of the first chargeable device 150 and thesecond chargeable device 150. It will be understood that additionalchargeable devices 150 may be added to this chain in applicable chargingpositions, thus enabling the power supply 140 of the powered device 110to indirectly supply an electrical charge for charging each of thechained chargeable devices 150. Thus, one or more chargeable devices 150may be chained to the powered device 110 to enable charging to the oneor more chargeable devices 150 through the power supply 140 of thepowered device 110.

In some embodiments, a first chargeable device may be configured todetect when a second chargeable device 150 is in charging position forcharging from the first chargeable device 150. In this case, upondetecting the presence of the second chargeable device 150 in chargeableposition with respect to the first chargeable device 150, and thus withrespect to the charging hardware 210 of the first chargeable device 150,the first chargeable device 150 may pass an electrical charge throughits charging hardware 210 to the receiving hardware 155 of the secondchargeable device 150. Thus, each chargeable device 150 need not expendpower by passing an electrical charge to its charging hardware 210unless another chargeable device 150 is in a charging position toreceive that electrical charge.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for charging chained chargeabledevices 150, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. As shown,at block 410, a first chargeable device 150 may be placed in chargingposition for receiving an electrical charge from a charging pad 130,where the charging pad 130 is integrated into a powered device 110having a power supply 140. At block 420, the charging pad 130 may detectthe presence of the first chargeable device 150 in the chargingposition. At block 430, the charging pad 130 may activate, responsive tothis detection, and may pass an electrical charge to the firstchargeable device 150. More specifically, for example, the pad hardware135 of the charging pad 130 may pass the electrical charge to thereceiving hardware 155 of the first chargeable device 150. In someembodiments, at block 440, a second chargeable device 150 may be placedin charging position for receiving an electrical charge from the firstchargeable device 150. More specifically, the receiving hardware 155 ofthe second chargeable device 150 may be positioned to receive anelectrical charge from the charging hardware 210 of the first chargeabledevice 150. At block 450, the first chargeable device 150 may detect thepresence of the second chargeable device 150 in the charging position.At block 460, the chargeable device 150 may activate its charginghardware 210, responsive to this detection, and may pass an electricalcharge to the second chargeable device 150. More specifically, forexample, the charging hardware 210 of the first chargeable device 150may pass the electrical charge to the receiving hardware 155 of thesecond chargeable device 150.

At block 470, the second chargeable device 150 may be removed from itscharging position and, in response, the first chargeable device 150 maydeactivate its charging hardware 210. At block 480, the first chargeabledevice 150 be removed from its charging position. At block 490, thecharging pad 130 may deactivate its pad hardware 130, response to thefirst chargeable device 150 having been removed.

It will be understood, however, that in some embodiments, the chargingpad 130 may remain in an always-on state, in which the powered device110 constantly delivers an electrical charge to the charging pad 130 solong as the powered device 110 is on or plugged in. In this case, nodetection operations need be performed by the charging pad 130 or thepowered device 110.

It will be further understood that if the first chargeable device 150moves from its charging position relative to the charging pad 130, withthe second chargeable device 150 remaining in its charging position withrespect to the charging hardware 210 of the first chargeable device 150,the second chargeable device 150 may then no longer be receiving anelectrical charge indirectly from the powered device 110. In someembodiments, the second chargeable device 150 may continue receiving anelectrical charge from the first chargeable device 150, although thefirst chargeable device 150 itself may no longer be charging. In someembodiments, however, the first chargeable device 150 may automaticallydeactivate its charging hardware 210, and may thus cease sending anelectrical charge to the second chargeable device 150, upon detectingthe first chargeable device is no longer charging.

It will further be understood that the powered device 110 need not beinvolved in the chain of chargeable devices 150 at all, and that one ormore chargeable devices 150 may be chained together to pass alongelectrical charges, without the use of an external power supply 140. Inthis case, a first chargeable device 150 that is not receiving a chargefrom another chargeable device 150 in the chain may provide (e.g., byway of its internal battery) an indirect source for charging theremaining chargeable devices 150 in the chain.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system 500 for use inimplementing a charging system or method according to some embodiments.The charging systems and methods described herein may be implemented inhardware, software (e.g., firmware), or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the methods described may be implemented, at least in part,in hardware and may be part of the microprocessor of a special orgeneral-purpose computer system 500, such as a personal computer,workstation, minicomputer, or mainframe computer. For instance, each ofthe chargeable devices 150 and the powered device 110 may be a computersystem 500, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the computer system 500includes a processor 505, memory 510 coupled to a memory controller 515,and one or more input devices 545 and/or output devices 540, such asperipherals, that are communicatively coupled via a local I/O controller535. These devices 540 and 545 may include, for example, a printer, ascanner, a microphone, and the like. Input devices such as aconventional keyboard 550 and mouse 555 may be coupled to the I/Ocontroller 535. The I/O controller 535 may be, for example, one or morebuses or other wired or wireless connections, as are known in the art.The I/O controller 535 may have additional elements, which are omittedfor simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers,repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications.

The I/O devices 540, 545 may further include devices that communicateboth inputs and outputs, for instance disk and tape storage, a networkinterface card (NIC) or modulator/demodulator (for accessing otherfiles, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or othertransceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, and the like.

The processor 505 is a hardware device for executing hardwareinstructions or software, particularly those stored in memory 510. Theprocessor 505 may be a custom made or commercially available processor,a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among severalprocessors associated with the computer system 500, a semiconductorbased microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), amacroprocessor, or other device for executing instructions. Theprocessor 505 includes a cache 570, which may include, but is notlimited to, an instruction cache to speed up executable instructionfetch, a data cache to speed up data fetch and store, and a translationlookaside buffer (TLB) used to speed up virtual-to-physical addresstranslation for both executable instructions and data. The cache 570 maybe organized as a hierarchy of more cache levels (L1, L2, etc.).

The memory 510 may include one or combinations of volatile memoryelements (e.g., random access memory, RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM,etc.) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read onlymemory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), tape, compactdisc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette, cartridge, cassette orthe like, etc.). Moreover, the memory 510 may incorporate electronic,magnetic, optical, or other types of storage media. Note that the memory510 may have a distributed architecture, where various components aresituated remote from one another but may be accessed by the processor505.

The instructions in memory 510 may include one or more separateprograms, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executableinstructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of FIG.5, the instructions in the memory 510 include a suitable operatingsystem (OS) 511. The operating system 511 essentially may control theexecution of other computer programs and provides scheduling,input-output control, file and data management, memory management, andcommunication control and related services.

Additional data, including, for example, instructions for the processor505 or other retrievable information, may be stored in storage 520,which may be a storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid statedrive. The stored instructions in memory 510 or in storage 520 mayinclude those enabling the processor to execute one or more aspects ofthe charging systems and methods of this disclosure.

The computer system 500 may further include a display controller 525coupled to a display 530. In some embodiments, the computer system 500may further include a network interface 560 for coupling to a network565. The network 565 may be an IP-based network for communicationbetween the computer system 500 and an external server, client and thelike via a broadband connection. The network 565 transmits and receivesdata between the computer system 500 and external systems. In someembodiments, the network 565 may be a managed IP network administered bya service provider. The network 565 may be implemented in a wirelessfashion, e.g., using wireless protocols and technologies, such as WiFi,WiMax, etc. The network 565 may also be a packet-switched network suchas a local area network, wide area network, metropolitan area network,the Internet, or other similar type of network environment. The network565 may be a fixed wireless network, a wireless local area network(LAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN) a personal area network (PAN),a virtual private network (VPN), intranet or other suitable networksystem and may include equipment for receiving and transmitting signals.

Charging systems and methods according to this disclosure may beembodied, in whole or in part, in computer program products or incomputer systems 500, such as that illustrated in FIG. 5.

Technical effects and benefits of some embodiments include the abilitycharge one or more devices in a chain of chargeable devices 150, withoutthe need for tethers to the chargeable devices 150. As a result, thenumber of cables needed within a workspace may be reduced, and area inworkspace may be left available for other use.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like,and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: integrating a charging padinto a powered device comprising a power supply, the powered device atleast one of a monitor and a keyboard; configuring the charging pad toreceive a first chargeable device in a charging position relative to thecharging pad; and configuring the charging pad to deliver an electricalcharge from the power supply to the first chargeable device when thechargeable device is in the charging position.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the first chargeable device is a wireless trackpad.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, the first chargeable device comprising receivinghardware configured to receive the electrical charge from the chargingpad.
 4. The method of claim 3, the first chargeable device furthercomprising charging hardware configured to pass the electrical charge toa second chargeable device coupled with the first chargeable device,wherein the power supply of the powered device is configured to chargeboth the first chargeable device and the second chargeable device. 5.The method of claim 1, the powered device configured to supply power toeach of one or more chargeable devices chained to the powered device byway of the charging pad.
 6. The method of claim 1, the charging padfurther configured to detect presence of the first chargeable device inthe charging position, and to deliver the electrical charge to the firstchargeable device responsive to the detection.
 7. The method of claim 1,the charging pad being configured to couple with the first chargeabledevice using at least one of inductive coupling and magnetic resonance.